Job summary

Research & Development Transformation Project Lead

37.5 hours per week (Condensed and Reduced hours negotiable)

Fixed term for 12 months

Salary: £49,387 - £56,515 per annum

Closing Date: Tuesday 26th May 2026

Interview Date: TBC

**This post may close early due to high numbers of applications, so you are advised to apply promptly. **

All correspondence for this vacancy will be sent by email; please check your account regularly including your Junk and SPAM areas.

A great and friendly place to work, so bring your passion, commitment and expertise and enjoy the opportunities to make a difference every day.

We welcome applications from the Armed Forces Community - get in touch to find out more

#JoinTeamEliot

• The Research Transformation Project Lead will lead and deliver a portfolio of time-limited transformation projects within Research & Development, supporting the improvement of research systems, processes, and delivery across the Trust. The post holder will apply project and change management expertise to deliver agreed outcomes to time, cost, and quality standards.
• The role involves working collaboratively with R&D teams, clinical services, and key stakeholders to implement change, manage risks, and ensure alignment with Trust and national research priorities. The post holder will support service redesign, performance improvement, and sustainability, contributing to a culture of innovation and continuous improvement within Research & Development.

Main duties of the job

• The Research Transformation Project Lead will lead the delivery of a 12-month, cross-Trust transformation programme to reduce delays in study set-up across George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust and South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust. The post holder will map and analyse end-to-end study set-up pathways, identify duplication and bottlenecks, and support the elimination or reduction of delays from approval to first participant first visit, strengthening performance against the national 150-day standard.
• Working autonomously across both organisations, the post holder will harmonise R&D processes, developing shared SOPs, templates, workflows and an integrated approvals model. They will coordinate inputs from R&D, clinical services and corporate support departments including Pharmacy, Radiology, Pathology, Information Governance, Contracts, Finance and Digital/IT.
• The role will establish robust project governance, develop a cross-Trust digital performance dashboard, and provide regular assurance reporting to senior leaders. The post holder will also support workforce capability, engagement and communication, delivering joint workshops and improvement resources, and produce a scalable model to support future expansion of joint research operations.

About us

Here at George Eliot our vision to'excel at patient care' takes centre stage. An ever evolving clinically-led acute service provider we are on a journey to continually provide high quality, safe and responsive services delivered by inspiring, friendly and compassionate staff who share our corporate values which underpin everything we do. Our values are not just words on a piece of paper, they bond us together, reflect our ambition and shape who we are:

Effective Open Communication

excellence and safety in everything we do

Challenge but support

Expect respect and dignity

Local health that inspires confidence

Benefits: On-site nursery, 27 days minimum annual leave plus bank holidays, cycle to work scheme, flexible working, in house training and development, buying and selling of annual leave, subsidised restaurant, tranquillity garden and generous subsidised on-site parking.

If you are applying for a Domestic Assistant or Health Care Assistant role you may be eligible for the refer a friend scheme - find out more here: https://www.geh.nhs.uk/about-us/people-and-workforce/vacancies/refer-friend-scheme

Job description

Job responsibilities

The Research Transformation Project Lead will lead a timelimited, nonclinical transformation programme to improve the efficiency, consistency and speed of study setup across George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust (GEH) and South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust (SWFT). The post holder will apply recognised project and change management methodologies to harmonise Research & Development (R&D) processes, reduce delays, and support compliance with national performance standards, including the 150day study setup target.

The role spans two acute Trusts, multiple clinical specialties and support services, requiring autonomous working, seniorlevel engagement and strong organisational skills. The post holder will support the development of a joint research operating model and prepare both organisations for future expansion of collaborative research delivery.

Project Leadership and Delivery

• Lead the endtoend delivery of the Research Harmonisation and Study Setup Transformation Project across GEH and SWFT.
• Develop and maintain detailed project plans, milestones, risk and issue logs (RAID), dependency maps and benefits realisation plans.
• Establish robust and proportionate project governance and provide regular progress, risk and assurance reports to senior leadership, R&D Committees and programme boards.
• Where required, provide daytoday direction to project support staff or secondees to ensure delivery of agreed outputs.

Process Mapping, Redesign and Harmonisation

• Map and analyse endtoend study setup pathways across both Trusts, including approvals, governance, contracting, costing, capacity and capability checks.
• Identify duplication, variation, inefficiencies and bottlenecks contributing to delays from approval to first participant first visit (FPFV).
• Support the reduction of Stage 2 and Stage 3 timelines to improve performance against national standards.
• Develop and implement harmonised SOPs, templates, workflows and process maps to support a consistent crossTrust operating model.

Digital Tools, Data and Reporting

• Design, develop and maintain a crossTrust digital dashboard to track study setup timelines, KPIs, bottlenecks and performance trends.
• Collate and analyse complex quantitative and qualitative data to inform decisionmaking and service improvement.
• Improve data quality, reporting and transparency for internal governance and external performance reporting (e.g. NIHR).

Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration

• Build and maintain effective working relationships with R&D teams, clinical services, and support departments including Pharmacy, Radiology, Pathology, Information Governance, Contracts, Finance and Digital/IT.
• Facilitate workshops, working groups and codesign sessions to support engagement, testing and adoption of new processes.
• Act as a central point of coordination for crossTrust communication relating to the transformation programme.

Workforce Capability and Communication

• Support workforce development through joint training sessions, workshops and improvement resources.
• Develop a Principal Investigator (PI) support pack and practical guidance to support timely study setup.
• Promote a culture of collaboration, shared learning and continuous improvement across both organisations.

Governance, Compliance and Assurance

• Ensure all harmonised processes align with NIHR, HRA, UK Policy Framework, GCP, GDPR and Trust governance requirements.
• Work with corporate teams to ensure redesigned pathways are compliant, safe and sustainable.
• Support preparation for audits, inspections or external reviews where required.

Scalability and Sustainability

• Produce a scaleup pack enabling aligned processes and tools to be adopted by other Foundation Group partners or NHS Trusts.
• Plan and support structured handover to embed new processes into businessasusual arrangements with clear ownership.

For a full comprehensive list of main responsibilities and duties, please kindly refer to job description and personal specification attached.

Job description
Job responsibilities

The Research Transformation Project Lead will lead a timelimited, nonclinical transformation programme to improve the efficiency, consistency and speed of study setup across George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust (GEH) and South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust (SWFT). The post holder will apply recognised project and change management methodologies to harmonise Research & Development (R&D) processes, reduce delays, and support compliance with national performance standards, including the 150day study setup target.

The role spans two acute Trusts, multiple clinical specialties and support services, requiring autonomous working, seniorlevel engagement and strong organisational skills. The post holder will support the development of a joint research operating model and prepare both organisations for future expansion of collaborative research delivery.

Project Leadership and Delivery

• Lead the endtoend delivery of the Research Harmonisation and Study Setup Transformation Project across GEH and SWFT.
• Develop and maintain detailed project plans, milestones, risk and issue logs (RAID), dependency maps and benefits realisation plans.
• Establish robust and proportionate project governance and provide regular progress, risk and assurance reports to senior leadership, R&D Committees and programme boards.
• Where required, provide daytoday direction to project support staff or secondees to ensure delivery of agreed outputs.

Process Mapping, Redesign and Harmonisation

• Map and analyse endtoend study setup pathways across both Trusts, including approvals, governance, contracting, costing, capacity and capability checks.
• Identify duplication, variation, inefficiencies and bottlenecks contributing to delays from approval to first participant first visit (FPFV).
• Support the reduction of Stage 2 and Stage 3 timelines to improve performance against national standards.
• Develop and implement harmonised SOPs, templates, workflows and process maps to support a consistent crossTrust operating model.

Digital Tools, Data and Reporting

• Design, develop and maintain a crossTrust digital dashboard to track study setup timelines, KPIs, bottlenecks and performance trends.
• Collate and analyse complex quantitative and qualitative data to inform decisionmaking and service improvement.
• Improve data quality, reporting and transparency for internal governance and external performance reporting (e.g. NIHR).

Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration

• Build and maintain effective working relationships with R&D teams, clinical services, and support departments including Pharmacy, Radiology, Pathology, Information Governance, Contracts, Finance and Digital/IT.
• Facilitate workshops, working groups and codesign sessions to support engagement, testing and adoption of new processes.
• Act as a central point of coordination for crossTrust communication relating to the transformation programme.

Workforce Capability and Communication

• Support workforce development through joint training sessions, workshops and improvement resources.
• Develop a Principal Investigator (PI) support pack and practical guidance to support timely study setup.
• Promote a culture of collaboration, shared learning and continuous improvement across both organisations.

Governance, Compliance and Assurance

• Ensure all harmonised processes align with NIHR, HRA, UK Policy Framework, GCP, GDPR and Trust governance requirements.
• Work with corporate teams to ensure redesigned pathways are compliant, safe and sustainable.
• Support preparation for audits, inspections or external reviews where required.

Scalability and Sustainability

• Produce a scaleup pack enabling aligned processes and tools to be adopted by other Foundation Group partners or NHS Trusts.
• Plan and support structured handover to embed new processes into businessasusual arrangements with clear ownership.

For a full comprehensive list of main responsibilities and duties, please kindly refer to job description and personal specification attached.

Person Specification

Essential & Desirable

Essential

• Degree level education or equivalent experience
• Project or change management training (e.g., PRINCE2 Foundation or equivalent).
• Experience within an R&D department
• Experience in managing or coordinating complex projects.
• Understanding of NIHR Structures, RRDN and Research Pathways.
• Experience working across organisational boundaries and engaging senior stakeholders.
• Good understanding of the 150 day clinical trial setup plans.
• Skilled in drafting policies, SOPs and process documentation.
• Confidence working with data and digital systems (e.g., Excel, project tools).
• Ability to work autonomously and manage workload.
• Ability to work collaboratively influence, negotiate and motivate others
• Experience of process mapping and redesign.
• Research governance or GCP training.

Desirable

• Experience implementing service change across organisational boundaries.
• Experience supporting clinical research set up or governance processes.
• PRINCE2 Practitioner / MSP ( Managing Successful Programmes)
• Qualification in service improvement (LEAN, Six Sigma).
• Management/Leadership Qualification
• Strong project management skills.
• Facilitation of workshops and co design.

Person Specification
Essential & Desirable

Essential

• Degree level education or equivalent experience
• Project or change management training (e.g., PRINCE2 Foundation or equivalent).
• Experience within an R&D department
• Experience in managing or coordinating complex projects.
• Understanding of NIHR Structures, RRDN and Research Pathways.
• Experience working across organisational boundaries and engaging senior stakeholders.
• Good understanding of the 150 day clinical trial setup plans.
• Skilled in drafting policies, SOPs and process documentation.
• Confidence working with data and digital systems (e.g., Excel, project tools).
• Ability to work autonomously and manage workload.
• Ability to work collaboratively influence, negotiate and motivate others
• Experience of process mapping and redesign.
• Research governance or GCP training.

Desirable

• Experience implementing service change across organisational boundaries.
• Experience supporting clinical research set up or governance processes.
• PRINCE2 Practitioner / MSP ( Managing Successful Programmes)
• Qualification in service improvement (LEAN, Six Sigma).
• Management/Leadership Qualification
• Strong project management skills.
• Facilitation of workshops and co design.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the .

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. .

Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the .

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. .

Employer details

Employer name

George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust
Address

George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust

College Street

Nuneaton

CV107DJ

United Kingdom

Employer's website